PRIMARY schools across west and north Wiltshire are celebrating steady improvements in this year's performance league tables.

The tables, which record the number of 11-year-olds reaching the government's target of level four in English, maths and science, were released Thursday.

Schools picked out for praise by education chiefs for making particular progress were Walwayne Court and Grove in Trowbridge, Holt, and Redland in Chippenham.

Grove County Primary saw its combined total of pupils achieving level four in English, maths and science go up from 238 per cent last year to 266 per cent this year.

Another good performer was Walwayne Court School, where the combined total went up from 197 per cent to 259 per cent.

Tim Vince, headteacher of Aloeric Primary School in Melksham, said: "I am pleased with the progress being made.

"There is evidence that the literary and numeracy hours are having a positive effect. The staff are hard working and the children are being pushed.

"This particular year group which appears in the league tables is a good year group.

"Every year group is different though, and achievements are different for different children."

Ninety per cent of pupils at Aloeric reached level four in English and science, and 80 per cent in maths.

Mr Vince said parents should be cautious about reading too much into the league tables.

He said: "The league tables are rough and ready and should not take anything away from the hard work and effort by pupils and staff at all Wiltshire schools."

Chief education officer Bob Wolfson said: "What we are seeing is a gradual, gentle improvement; our schools are getting better year on year, and are making steady progress.

"We are very pleased, particularly for the schools that are showing improvements greater than other people's."

Mr Wolfson said educational standards were one of Wiltshire County Council's highest priorities.

Staff and pupils at Redland School in Chippenham are celebrating after being named as one of the most improved in the latest primary school league tables.

The school was bitterly disappointed when it was severely criticised by Ofsted inspectors two years ago, and branded as having serious weaknesses.

Now it has turned the tables and has been named by education chiefs as one of the county's most-improved schools.

In just two years, results in English, maths and science have rocketed from a combined total of 166 per cent in 1998 to 266 per cent this year.

Now, pupils scored 89 per cent in English, 83 per cent in maths, and 94 per cent in science.

League tables for Wiltshire appear in the Wiltshire Times, edition Friday, December 8.